*No progress on maximum decisions of DDB
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 21: The impassiveness of the bureaucrats is creating hurdles in the development of mountainous and remote district of Doda as almost all the decisions taken by the District Development Board last year are gathering dust at different levels in the administration. Due to this, the people have started gathering an impression that the Governments will come and go but the developmental profile of the district will remain worrisome.
While chairing meeting of District Development Board of Doda on July 4 last year, the then Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had announced setting up of special Chenab Valley Development Fund while ruling out creation of Hill Development Council for erstwhile Doda district comprising three districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban.
He had stated that Chenab Valley Development Fund would help these mountain locked and remote districts to grow rapidly and match infrastructure of other districts. He had even gone to the extent of announcing that Government would give its share to the Chenab Valley Development Fund and financial assistance would also be mobilized by other means including two per cent contribution from the hydroelectric companies operating in the region viz National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
However, Chenab Valley Development Fund has remained a dream till date mainly because of lack of seriousness from all the concerned authorities, sources told EXCELSIOR. What to talk of mobilizing funds from different agencies, the Government has even not provided its share.
“The only step that has been taken in this regard is sending a communication to the hydroelectric companies for contribution of two percent from the profits that too without any follow-up exercise”, sources said, adding “due to this the plan of channelizing investments for environment protections, social upliftment, development, employment generation and soil conservation in Chenab valley in general and Doda district in particular has remained confined to the official files”.
The DDB had also approved Rs 40 lakh special package for development of Bhaderwah-Bhalessa-Jai Tourist Circuit in Doda district and Rs 50 lakh for beautification of Doda town but funds for none of these projects have been released till date and decisions have turned out to be a cruel joke with the people of this district, sources further informed.
Though the then Chief Minister had admitted that entire Chenab Valley has very poor road network and other facilities, no seriousness was shown by the officers of the Roads and Buildings Department for taking up Pul-Doda-Doda road under CRF.
“Now, the people are being told by the officers that this decision would be translated into reality during the current financial year but how much seriousness would be shown in this regard remains a million dollar question”, sources said.
It was also decided by the Board that Lift Irrigation Scheme Jodhpur would be constructed but when the work on the scheme will begin cannot be specified at present because the Detailed Project Report submitted to J&K State Water Resources Regulatory Authority is unlikely to be cleared shortly as the Authority is lying defunct during the past quite long time with no Chairperson or Member.
During the DDB meeting, the then Health Minister had announced that Trauma Centre at Khellani will be inaugurated within 2 months——by September 4, 2015 but Centre is still awaiting formal inauguration. “Though the officers claim that Trauma Centre has been thrown open for the patients, the fact remains that neither this centre has adequate number of manpower nor equipment, which a Trauma Centre should have”, sources added.
Even announcement regarding Skill Development Institute in Doda was made but no follow-up exercise has been initiated by the concerned authorities.
“In view of hanging fate of majority of the DDB decisions, the people have started gathering an impression that even the present dispensation doesn’t want to improve the developmental profile of Doda district”, sources said, adding “though the elected representatives of people are trying their level best to come up to the expectations of the people, inadequate financial assistance from the Government and impassiveness on the part of bureaucrats is creating road-block in ensuring holistic development of the district”.
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